Means and method for pleating cloth in web form



T. E. DAVIS Sept. 14,1954

MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM Filed July 22, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS T. E. DAVIS Sept. 14, 1954 MEANS ANDMETHOD FOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22,1952 INVENTOR THOMAS" 5. DAV/J BY wrx 6 ATTORNEYS T. E. DAVIS Sept. 14,1954 MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed July 22, 1952 THOMAS E. DAV/6' wrd,m

ATTOR/Vf/J- Sept. 14, 1954 'r. E. DAVIS 2,639,070

MEANS AND METHOD FOR FLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM Filed July 22, 1952 sSheets-Sheet 4 INVENT OR WNIHYWNAI. I:.--1--|l-|-u||||||Ill:|,llllillll:AJ z z u 3-rrbitiIllilillilil---ill---:IIIII L M$ NM IN N. u N mm m N THOMAS E.DAV/J BY 7 M, 6 ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 T. E. DAVIS MEANS AND METHODFOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM Filed July 22, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A AAH .18 7/90/1446 46 DAV/S 6-514} 4 ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1954 T. E. DAVIS2,689,070

MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM Filed July 22, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR I 2 9; 21 THOMAJ'E. DAV/J Y ATTORNEYS PatentedSept. 14, 1954 MEANS AND METHOD FOR PLEATING CLOTH IN WEB FORM Thomas E.Davis, Rock Hill, S. 0., assignor to Rock Hill Printing & FinishingCompany, Rock Hill, S. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application July22, 1952, Serial No. 300,162

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the formation of pleated cloth and moreparticularly to a means and method by which cloth in web form may bepleated with great facility and efiectiveness.

Briefly described, cloth is pleated in web form according to the presentinvention by gathering a cloth web widthwise from the center and foldingthe gathers in the web into pleats while continuously drawing the weblongitudinally by means applying heat and pressure for ironing thepleats in place. This method of the present invention and the meansprovided for carryin it out not only offer exceptional advantage fromthe standpoint of operating speed as a result of the manner in which thecloth is handled in web form, but are also particularly well adaptedforv ironing and setting pleats in cloth that has previously beentreated with a settable resin.

These and other features of the invention are described in furtherdetail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is .a side elevation illustrating the arrangement of a pleatingapparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding generally to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 .is a partial end elevation as seen from the right in Fig. 2.;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 4-4 in Fig.1;

Fig. 5 'is a longitudinal section taken substantially at the line 5-,5in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the first series of string plates;

Fig. 7 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of a modified form for one of the secondseries of string plates;

Fig. 9 is a plan elevation corresponding to B Fig. 10 is a sideelevation of one of the pleating dogs;

Fig. .11 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 10; I

Fig; 12 is a left end view corresponding. to Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a right end view corresponding to Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the arrangement of thesupporting means provided for carrying the string plates and pleatingdogs;

Fig. '15 is a sectional detail taken on the line l5-l5 in Fig. 14;

Fig. .16 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line .16- 46in 14; j

Fig. '17 is a fragmentary detail at substantially substantially 2 theline l1-l'l in Fig. 2 indicating the manner in which a cloth web isgathered wi thwi y the first series of string plates;

Fig. 18 is a further fragmentary detail at substantially the line I 8-|8in Fig. 2 illustrating how the gathered cloth web is guided by thesecond series of string plates;

Fig. 19 is a similar fragmentary detail at substantially the line l9-l9-in Fig. 2 representing the folding of the gathered cloth web to formpleats;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified arrangementof the string plates; and

Fig. 21 is anend elevation as seen from the right in Fig. 20 with thestring plates removed.

With reference now in detail to the drawing, and more particularly atfirst to Fig. 1, the pleating apparatus shown as an embodiment of thepresent invention comprises a frame structure as indicated generally bythe reference numeral ID on which stand brackets II are arranged toposition a mounting pin as at l2 for a cloth supply roll R so that thecloth may be withdrawn therefrom and trained through the apparatus asrepresented by the broken line at W.

From the supply'roll R, the cloth web W is preferably first drawn over abowed spreader roll I3, which is also supported on the frame structureI0 in the usual manner as shown, and then over an elevated guide roll l3from which it is trained vertically downward through further openingmeans such as air-operated selvage guides as represented at H and undera further guide roll l4 to be taken directly into the pleating elementsto be described below. The web W is thus positively maintained open andtransversely taut until the pleating elements are reached.

Immediately beyond the last mentioned guide roll M, the frame structureI0 is next arranged to carry complementary top and bottom supportingmeans 15 and 16 in vertically spaced relation to dispose a firstseriesof entrance string plates l1 and a second series of exit string plates18 for action on the cloth web W so that it is gathered transversely inpreparation for the folding of continuous longitudinal pleats therein.Each of these supporting means I! and I8 comprise a first rail elementit formed with symmetrical leg portions as at I 9 extending diagonallyof the frame structure 10 from the center thereof and in the directionof travel of the web W; and a second rail element 20 extendingtransversely of the frame structure It adjacent the extending ends ofthe first rail leg portions I! (see Fig. 2).

Both of these first and second rail elements I9 and 20 of thecomplementary top and bottom supporting means I andl6 are undercut ontheir opposed faces to a tenon form as at 2| and 22, 8 respectively(compare Figs. 5 and 14), adapting them as a. mounting base for thepreviously I mentioned string plates 11- and I8. The form of each stringplate I1 of the first series is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as comprisingfiat plates having rounded entrance noses as at I1 and fitted withmounting pads 23 having dovetail grooves 24 I9. In the case of thestring plates I1 these dovetail grooves 24 in the mounting pads 23 arecut angularly in correspondence with the diagonal disposition of thefirst rail leg portions I9, so

that the string plates I1 are displaced longitudinally with respect tothe frame structure I0, and to the direction of travel of the cloth webW, when mountedin place on the rail element I9.

The string plates I8 of the second series are formed in exactly the sameway except that the mounting pads 25 with which they are fitted havedovetailgrooves cut therein squarely to correspond with the transversedisposition of the second rail element 20. The mounting pads 23 and 25in each case are provided in a thickness such as to result in thespacing desired for the string plates I1 and I8, and the string platesl1 and I8 are arranged on the first and second rail elements I9 and 26,respectively, with the mounting pads 23 and 25 thereof abutting so thatthe complementary top and bottom supporting means I5 and I6 can bevertically spaced to dispose each series of string plates I1 and I8 inhorizontally spaced internested relation (compare Figs. 1'7 and 18), oneof the central string plates I1 being fitted with a special mounting pad23' tofit the center of its supporting rail I9 with an internestingdisposition as indicated in Fig. 17. Each series of string plates I1 andI8 may be clamped or secured in place on the rail elements I9 and 20either individually or as a group by any convenient mean (not shown).

The vertical spacing of the top and bottom supporting means I5 and I6 ismade adjustable through supporting studs 26 and 21 that are fitted withopposed pair of adjusting nuts as at 28 and29, and 38 and 3I,respectively, to engage cross supporting rails 32 and 33 at the frontend of the respective supporting mean I5 and I6, and swivel lugs 34 and35 that are carried in side framing plates 36 and 31 at the rearthereof. By suitable manipulation of the adjusting nuts on thesesupporting studs 26 and 21, the vertical spacing of the top and bottomsupporting means I5 and I6 may not only be set as desired, but the frontand rear end of these supporting means I5 and I6 may also beindependently adjusted to tilt the supporting means I5 and I6 withrespect to each other (by virtue of the swivel arrangement of the lugs34 and 35) and thereby readily vary or adjust the gathering actionbetween the string plates I1 and I8 in proper relation to the subsequentpleat folding action as will be explained in further detail presently.

The above noted supporting studs 26 and 21 are in turn supported on acarriage frame 39 (compare Figs. 14 and 15) that is fitted with crossshafts 39' having roller sleeves as at 46 thereon (see Fig. 4) by whichthe carriage frame 38 is adapted for shifting longitudinally on theframe structure I0. During normal operation,

. cut therein for interfitting with the tenon form ZI of the opposedfaces'of the first rail elements 4. the carriage frame 38 is held in afixed position against a stop plate M at the rear of the frame structureI!) by the pull of the web W as it is drawn through the pleatingelements, but at other times may be shifted forwardly on the framestructure I9 to facilitate initial threading of the web W and the like.-Controlv of this shifting movement is effected through racks 42attached at the bottom face of the carriage frame 38 along each sidethereof to engage pinions as at 43 carried on an actuating shaft 44mounted on the frame structure I0 and extending therefrom to carry alsoa manipulating handwheel' 45. This shiftable arrangement of the carriageframe 38 is particularly advantageous in that it allows the pleatingelements to be shifted for easy access away from the final draw rollpair (to be described presently) while otherwise allowing this roll pairto be disposed for acting on the cloth web W immediately as it leavesthe pleating elements. previously mentioned :elevated guide roll I3,selvageguide mean I4, and further guide roll I4, are disposedimmediately ahead of the string plate supporting means I5 and I6,vtheyshould also be made shiftable with the pleating elements byarranging them on suitable framing extending as at 38' from the carriageframe 38. The actual folding of pleats in the cloth web W is done by aseries of pleating dogs46 that are disposed to follow the second seriesof string plates I8 and fold the gathers formed by the string plates I1-and I8 into pleats. These. pleating dogs 46 are also supported on theshiftable carriage frame 38 by means of further supporting studs 41 thathave opposed pairs of adjusting nuts 48 and 49 thereon to engage endlugs as at 50 and 5|, which are fitted. to top .and bottom supportingvrails 52 and 53 extending transversely of the frame structure I0 forcarrying the series of pleating dogs 46. The opposed faces of thesesupporting rails 52 and 53 are also undercut to a tenon form as at 54and 55, respectively, and the pleating dogs 46 are also fitted withmounting pads 56 having dovetail groove cut therein as at 51 formounting on the supporting rails 52 and 53 in the same manner as alreadydescribed for the string plates I1 and I8, the mounting pads 23, 25 and-56 all having the same thickness so that a correspondingtransversespacing is provided for both series of string plates I1 and I8and the pleating dogs =46 as well. The form of the pleating dogs 46 isshown in detail in Figs. 10 to 13 of the drawings in which it will beseen that each pleating dog 46isformed with a folding lip'58 atthe edgethereofopposite from the edge at which it is fitted with the mountingpad 56. This folding edge 58' is shown in Fig. 10 in relation to abroken line represen tation at W of the-medial cloth line as a web beingpleated is drawn through the pleating dogs 46. At the entrance end ofthe dogs 46 (tothe left in Fig. 10), the folding lip 58 isdisposedbeyond the medial cloth line W and is of relatively narrowlateral extent so that it is adapted" I of an adjacentinternestedpleating dog'46 (com-' pare Figs. 5 and 19). Proceedingtowardthe exitend of thepleating dogs 46 (to the right in' Fig. 10), however, thefolding lip 58 isarran'ged so that it slopes toward the medial clothline W and increase in lateral extent' to' lay a gather in the clothwebMW over into a ,p eat giagain It should also be noted that as thecooperation with the folding lip 58"0f an adjacent internested pleatingdog 46).

The manner in which the gathering of the cloth web W by the stringplates l1 and I8, and the folding of these gathers into pleats by thepleating dogs 46, occurs is illustrated in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 of thedrawings. Fig.1! represents a transverse sectional detail through thefirst series of string plates-ll at substantially the line [1-H in Fig.2, the most forwardly disposed central string plates l1 being shown infull lines, and several of the string plates [1 to each side being shownin-section as an indication of their progressively displaced positionslongitudinally of the frame structure It by virtue of the previouslydescribed diagonal disposition of the first rail leg portions 19'. As aresult of this progressively dis placed arrangement, the cloth web W isacted upon first by the foremost centrally disposed string plates I! togather the web W widthwise from its longitudinal center first. Then,successively, the string plates I l at each side come into play, as theweb W is drawn through them, to form additional gathers in orderoutwardly from the central gather first formed until the web W haspassed through all of the string plates I 1 and has gathers formedcompletely across its width by the string plates ll.

The action of the second series of string plates I8 is represented inFig. 18. These string plates l8 are arranged in transverse alignment aspreviously noted and serve to receive the gathered cloth web W from thefirst series of string plates I! and direct the entrance of thisgathered web into the pleating dogs 46. For. some cloths, this action ofthe second series of string plates 18 can be obtained satisfactorily byspacing them to follow the first series of string plates I! without anyinterconnection. For cases where the cloth is more difiicult tohandlehowever, a modified arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 20and 21 of the drawings that provides for continuous guiding of thegathered cloth web W between the first and second series of stringplates.

In this modified arrangement a somewhat different form of string plateis used as illustrated best at 59 in Figs. 8 and 9 which shows amodified second series string plate for comparison with the first seriesstring plate ll shown in Figs. 6 and '7. This modified second seriesstring plate 59 is formed of a flat plate fitted with a mounting pad '60having a square cut dovetail groove 6| therein in all respects like thatof the string plates [8, except that the rounded string plate nose 59 isarranged rearwardly in this case at the exit (rather than the entrance)end of the string plate 59, and the active edge of the string plate 59as well as the edge of the rounded nose 59' is grooved as shown at 62 inFigs. 8 and 9. Similarly edge grooved first series string plates 63 arealso employed in this modified arrangement, although the modified firstseries string plate 63 are otherwise arranged and disposed just as thepreviously described string plates I! were (compare Figs. 5 and 20). I Y

The purpose of employing the edge grooved string plates 59 and 63 is toprovide for connecting them in succeeding pairs with'strand elements asshown at E4 in Fig. 20, formed of any suitable material such as pianowire, that may be located by the edge grooved string plates 59 and 63and tensioned between them as a continuous guiding means whileintroducing a minimum additional drag on the cloth. Alternatively, thesucceeding pairs of'string plates might each be formed as a unit, ratherthan separately in firstand' second series, and therebyprovide acontinuous active edge for the string plates, but such an arrangementwould. impose substantially greater drag on the cloth web W beingpleated than the strand element arrangement described above.

A suitable means for securing thestrandelements 64 in this mannermayconsist of a pairof cross rails 65 and 66 mounted between the previouslynoted side framing plates 31 (or 36) just ahead of the second series ofmodified string plates 59, with the'extending edge of one cross rail ofthis pair such as 65 having anchoring slots 61 formed. thereinforifixing one end of the strand elements 64, and with the extendingface of the other cross rail of 'this'pair suchas 66 being fitted withadjustable screw eyes 68 at which the strand elements 64 may betightened to the proper tension.

Fig. 19 illustrates the action of the pleating dogs 46 on the stringplate gathered cloth web W. The cooperating folding lips 58 of thesedogs 46 actto lay the cloth gathers over into pleats so that the web Wis returned again to more or less a common widthwise plane as it leavesthe dogs 46 but isnow formed with longitudinally continuous pleatsacross its width.

The means by which the cloth web W is drawn throughthe pleatingoperation according to the present invention comprises a draw roll pairas shown at 69 and 19 inFig. 1 that serves as well for ironing into theweb W the pleats that have been formed. This draw roll pair 69 and Illmay be arranged in a separate stand (not shown) or be carried on theframe structure It as desired. Preferably, the bottom roll Ill of thepair is provided in a larger diameter to serve as a backing roll,while-the top roll 69 is fitted with axial ports as at H allowingcirculation of a heating medium such as steam therethrough for applyingheat as well as pressure at the nip of rolls 69 and 19. Such anarrangement adapts the apparatus particularly well for handling clothwebs W that have been treated with a settable resin, such asurea-formaldehyde, to obtain a permanent finish and which may also beutilized according to the present invention to set the pleats formed inthe cloth web W.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web-form comprising a framestructure, a first transverse series of fiat, vertically disposed,entrance stringplates carried on said frame and arranged in spacedinternested relation and progressively displaced longitudinally from thelongitudinal center of said series toward each end for gathering saidcloth widthwise from the longitudinal center of a web thereof trainedthrough said string plates, a secondtransverse series of flat,vertically disposed, exit string plates carried on said frame structureand arranged in corresponding spaced aligned for disposing pleating dogsarranged on said frame structure for folding pleats in the gatheredcloth longitudinally of said web.

2. Apparatus for pleatin cloth in web form comprising a frame structure,a first transverse series of fiat, vertically disposed entrance stringinternested relation but transversely the gathered cloth web to bepleated, and a succeeding transverse series of I plates carried on saidframe structureandalter' nately extending upwardly and downwardly inspaced internested relationand arranged with 1 pairs of said upwardlyanddownwardly extending string plates displaced progressively in a 1ongitudinal direction from the center of said series series and likewisealternately extending upwardly and downwardly in corresponding spacedinternested relation but arranged in common transverse alignment formaintaining the gather in a cloth web drawn therethrough from saidsecond,

series of string plates.

3. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web form as defined in claim 1 andfurther characterized in that a pair of draw rolls is arranged beyondsaid pleating dogs for drawing said cloth web through said first andsecond series of string plates and said pleating dogs for gathering andpleating.

4. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web form as defined in claim 3 andfurther characterized in I that at least one of said draw rolls isheated for ironing and setting the pleats in said cloth web.

5. Apparatus for pleating cloth in webform as defined in claim 2 andfurther characterized inthat selvage guide means are arranged just aheadof said first series of string plates and a webguide roll is disposedbetween said guide means and first string plates to have the cloth webangled thereover before entering said first string plates formaintaining said web open and transversley taut until said first stringplates are reached.

. 6. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web form as defined in claim 2 andfurther characterized in that the extending edges and the opposite endsof said first and second series of-string plates are grooved, and strandelements are disposed in said grooves and extended under tension betweenthe corresponding string plates of said first and second series forcontinuous guiding of said gathered cloth web between the string platesof said first and second series.

'7. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web form comprising a framestructure, a first transverse series of fiat, vertically disposed,entrance string plates carried on said frame structure and a1- ternatelyextending upwardly and downwardly in spaced internested relation andarranged with pairs of said upwardly and downwardly extending stringplates displaced progressively in a longitudinal direction from thecenter of said series toward each end, whereby a cloth web drawn throughsaid first series of string plates willbe.

gathered widthwise from the longitudinal center of said web, a secondtransverse series of fiat, yertically disposed, exit string platescarried on said frame structure and arranged beyond said first, seriesand likewise alternately extending upwardly and downwardly incorresponding spaced internested relation but arranged in common transverse alignment, and a succeeding transverse series of pleating dogshaving cooperating folding lips mounted alternately in internestedrelation on said frame structure with a transverse spacing correspondingto the string plates of said first and second series for folding pleatsin the gathered cloth longitudinally of saidweb, the extent ofinternesting of said first and second series of string plates beingindependently adjustable for diagonally of said frame structure from thecenter thereof and a second rail element extending transversely of saidframe structure adjacent the extending ends of said diagonal legportions, a

first series of string plates mounted alternately on the diagonal legportions of said first rail elements in spaced internested relation, asecond series of string plates mounted alternately-on said second railelements in internested relation with a transverse spacing correspondingto the string plates of said first series, a further pair of top andbottom supporting rail elements carried transversely on said framestructure in vertically spaced relation adjacent the second railelements of said first mentioned top and bottom supporting means, aseries of pleating dogs having cooperating folding lips mountedalternately in internested relation on said last mentioned rail elementswith a transverse spacing corresponding to the string plates of saidfirst and second series.

9. Apparatus for pleating cloth in web form as defined in claim 8 andfurther characterized in that said top and bottom supporting means andsaid further pair of supporting rail elements are carried on said framestructure for shifting longitudinally thereof to facilitate initialthreading of a cloth web through said string plates and pleating dogs,and the vertical spacing at each longitudinal end of said top and bottomsupporting means and said further pair of rail elements is independentlyadjustable.

10. The process of pleating cloth in web form 11. The process ofpleating cloth in web form which comprises forming uniform gathers in acloth web widthwise thereof from the center and folding the gathers insaid web into pleats while drawing said web longitudinally by meansapplyin heat and pressure thereto for ironing the pleats formed therein.

12. The process of pleating cloth in web form which comprisesimpregnating a cloth web with a settable resin, and then forming gathersin said cloth web widthwise thereof from the center and folding saidgathers to form pleats while drawing said web longitudinally by meansapplying heat and pressure thereto for ironing and setting said pleatstherein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,402,584 Elrod Jan. 3; 1922 1,903,618 Brintnall Apr. 11, 19332,072,408 Pollak Mar. 2, 1937 2,341,735 Monsarofi Feb. 15, 1944

